Tuesday, December 23, 2008

I have used the word inclement for many years, not really knowing what it meant. Is it a happy euphemism for "rainy"? I don't know. So finally I thesaurus.com-ed it and discovered that it means "Bitter and Nasty." That makes a lot of sense, but why don't we call it what it is? If my flight gets canceled, I would rather it be because of life-threatening "bitter and nasty" weather conditions, not because of something that sounds like a geriatric medical condition. Think about it...

Sunday, December 21, 2008

It has been snowing non-stop in Tacoma for the last two days. Everything is beautiful and white! We took Jude out into the back yard so he could experience his first snow fall. Rob had to throw snowballs at Jackson because he knew it would be more acceptable than throwing them at Jude. He can wait until next year for that. Jude's first time in the snow

What a cute little snow bunny

Here are a few photos of the street in front of our house. (Snow1, Snow2, Snow3) We've probably got about a foot of accumulated snow. Rob enjoyed driving up the street, swerving in the snow to Starbucks (by himself, without Jude). He said it was like driving in a snowmobile. (Jeanne said Chris and Josh had the same idea down in Portland). Speaking of which, we've seen our neighbors literally driving their snowmobiles and skiing up and down the streets in the area. What a fun and strange change from Texas!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Ho Ho Ho, Kids!And congratulations to Chris and Jeanne. Their ETA is June 17th. And congratulations to Tim and Sara on finding out they're having a boy. Their ETA is March 30th. Anyone else want to announce anything?

Friday, December 05, 2008

I have an altered perception of reality now that I am the father of a three-month old. Everywhere I look I see children. And they're all cute. In the mornings I walk by our company's daycare center. I call it the "baby terrarium" since the facility is encased in windows to the public on one of its sides. You can view inside and watch a half dozen bald headed babies sitting in a circle waiting to plop over on their sides at any moment. It's adorable. Then again, I also see pictures of little kids in the wrong place at the wrong time in this world - whether they're hurt on the streets of Pakistan or in suburban Cincinnati. I see them through different eyes these days, and it's terribly painful the things forced upon them. I picture Jude when I see them; it hurts. I don't mean to be a downer ... all I'm saying is, you see children in a different way when you have your own child.

A few years ago, a guy said to me as soon as I had children, I'd vote a certain way and move to the suburbs like all the other parents. I don't think I'd go that far (I'm still anti-suburb), but I do agree that your perception of life changes when you're the guardian and "god" to a little human.